Apparatus and method for open thread, reusable, no-waste collapsible tube dispensers with control ribs and/or detent

ABSTRACT

At least one collapsible tube for containing at least one product, comprising: external flexible thread form on flexible throat coupled to flexible shoulder. The flexible throat and flexible shoulder flatten to dispense essentially all the contained product. The flexible shoulder may include a raised detent for stopping a cap and/or raised flexible ribs to control the direction of flattening the flexible shoulder. At least one cap for the collapsible tube including an interior bulge or an interior rim, both for urging an included interior thread form to engage with an external flexible thread form included in the flexible throat, and further including a lower surface to engage with the raised detent, and/or internal ribs and/or internal posts to engage with the raised flexible ribs. Manufacturing methods for the collapsible tubes and caps, and these items as products of the manufacturing processes.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/677,571, filed Feb. 21, 2007, which claims priority to ProvisionalApplication 60/775,752 filed Feb. 21, 2006, and is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. Nos. 10/928,676 filed Aug.26, 2004 and 10/928,957 also filed Aug. 26, 2004, all of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to open thread screw and cap mechanisms withparticular application to forming collapsible tube dispensers.

2. Background Information

This application is a continuation in part of two applicationspreviously filed for the applicants disclosing reusable, collapsibletube dispensers. While the earliest collapsible tube dispensers in theUS patent database date from the early nineteenth century, there wereproblems reported with the prior art which the previous applicationsaddressed, namely:

-   -   The prior art collapsible tubes do not lend themselves both to        being reusable and supporting the complete, controlled        dispensing of their contents. As the term is used herein,        reusable will refer to the capability to dispense small, or        controlled, portions of the contents multiple times, perhaps on        different occasions. Reusable may further refer to the        capability to refill the contents multiple times. And reusable        may further refer to a container, which can be cleaned, and        refilled with differing contents.    -   With the exception of some one-time use containers, prior art        collapsible tube dispensers typically possess a rigid shoulder        and a rigid throat. The rigid throat provides an exterior, rigid        screw. This exterior rigid screw mates with a cap providing a        matching interior screw pattern. When the cap is screwed onto        the exterior screw of the throat, a seal is formed, which seals        in the contents of the collapsible tube.

There are several terms which will be used herein:

-   -   Personal care products include, but are not limited to,        cosmetics, facial care products, skin care products,        over-the-counter health products, and/or hair care products.    -   Open thread screws have threads that taper away from the body,        or remain of constant thickness. Up until the parent        applications, using these open thread screws required that the        throat and the threads of a collapsible tube be essentially        rigid. An essentially rigid throat on a collapsible tube        dispenser virtually guarantees that some of the tube contents        will not readily leave the tube, causing the tube to waste some        of its contents. The rigid shoulder further guarantees this        waste.

FIG. 1A shows a prior art exterior screw 20 with a prior art externalflexible thread form 22. The prior art external flexible thread form 22is shown in an expanded view through the following examples shown inFIGS. 1B and C with a matching internal thread form 24.

There is a local coordinate system in FIG. 1A, which will be usedthroughout this document. The z axis 10 extends through the center ofthe cylinder of the prior art exterior screw 20, and is the central axisof the cylinder. The r axis 12 is the radial direction of the thread ata point, which, for the sake of discussion, is referred to as threadpoint 22 in FIG. 1A. The n axis 14 is normal to the thread point 22.When the screw is turned in the n direction, it engages more of thethreads.

The engagement of an exterior screw thread and matching interior screwis shown in the expanded view of the prior art open screw thread 22 inFIG. 1A. The expanded view is a cross-section of the threads taken inthe plane of the z axis 10 and the r axis 12.

FIG. 1B shows an example of FIG. 1A using a standard acme thread for theexternal flexible thread form 22 and the matching internal thread form24. A first external acme thread 22-1 matches the first internal acmethread 24-1. A second external acme thread 22-2 with the second internalacme thread 24-2.

FIG. 1C shows an example of FIG. 1A using a standard buttress thread forthe external flexible thread form 22 and the matching internal threadform 24. A first external buttress thread 22-3 matches the firstinternal buttress thread 24-3. A second external buttress thread 22-4with the second internal buttress thread 24-4.

FIG. 1D shows an example of FIG. 1A using a box thread for the externalflexible thread form 22 and the matching internal thread form 24. Afirst external box thread 22-5 matches the first internal box thread24-5. A second external box thread 22-6 with the second internal boxthread 24-6. One skilled in the art will recognize that FIGS. 1B to 1Dshow some of the many variations in open threads in use today. Othercommonly used threads include various “V” shaped threads, as well asvariations in angles of the walls, variations in the shape of the peaksand troughs of the threads.

To summarize from the parent applications, what is needed and has beenaddressed in them are reusable collapsible tubes able to dispenseessentially all of its contents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the inventors' experiments with the collapsible tubes disclosed inthe parent applications, two problems were found, either or both ofwhich can adversely affect the use of those collapsible tubes. The firstproblem stems from over tightening the cap, which in certain instancescan apply a counter pressure to the flexible throat, causing it to breakthe seal formed with the cap. The second problem comes from theflexibility of the flexible shoulder, which can be misdirected whensqueezed, causing the contained product to be dispensed erratically.

Certain embodiments of the invention include a collapsible tube forcontaining at least one product, comprising: an external flexible threadform on a flexible throat coupled to a flexible shoulder. The flexiblethroat and the flexible shoulder flatten to dispense essentially all ofthe contained product. The external flexible thread form mates with aninternal thread form, included in the cap, urging the flexible throat toseal against the cap when the cap is twisted onto the flexible throat.And the external flexible thread form further includes at least twoexternal open threads.

-   -   The flexible shoulder may comprise a raised detent near the        widest circumference of the flexible shoulder that stops a cap        when twisted onto the flexible throat at a final position.    -   Alternatively, the flexible shoulder may comprise at least two        raised flexible ribs to control the flattening of the flexible        shoulder in a single direction.    -   Or the flexible shoulder may comprise both the raised detent for        stopping the cap and the raised flexible ribs to control the        flattening, which may be preferred in certain situations.

The raised detent may include a raised rim near the widest circumferenceof the flexible shoulder sufficient to create a barrier to the capturning beyond when the cap is in the final position.

The raised detent may include at least one gap for engaging with a bumpon the cap to create a cue indicating to a user that the final positionhas been reached.

In embodiments where the flexible shoulder includes raised ribs, theflexible shoulder may include at least two external raised ribs and/orat least two of an internal raised ribs. The number of external orinternal raised ribs may be even or odd, and may further be at mosttwenty four.

Aspects of the invention include manufacturing the collapsible tube withthe flexible shoulder including the raised detent by molding a firstinjected material to create the collapsible tube with the raised detentincluded in the flexible shoulder. Certain embodiments of the inventioninclude the collapsible tube with the raised detent as a product of thismanufacturing process.

Aspects of the invention include manufacturing the collapsible tube withthe raised flexible ribs by molding a first injected material to createthe collapsible tube with the raised flexible ribs included in theflexible shoulder. Certain embodiments of the invention include thecollapsible tube with the flexible ribs as a product of thismanufacturing process.

Certain embodiments include a cap for the collapsible tube, including aninterior bulge to act upon the flexible throat to urge the flexiblethroat to engage the internal thread form and the external flexiblethread form or an interior rim to act upon the flexible throat to urgethe flexible throat to engage the internal thread and the externalflexible thread form.

-   -   The cap for the collapsible tube with the flexible shoulder        including the raised detent may include a lower surface to        engage with the raised detent to stop the cap from twisting past        the final position.    -   The cap for the collapsible tube with the flexible shoulder        including raised flexible ribs may include an internal rib that        snaps over the raised flexible ribs to indicate the cap turning        to the final position or an internal post with sufficient length        to snap over the raised flexible ribs of the flexible throat as        the cap is turned into the final position, producing a cue        indicating to the user that the final position has been reached.

Aspects of the invention include manufacturing the cap for collapsibletube with the raised detent on the flexible shoulder by molding a secondinjected material to create the cap including the lower surface forengaging the raised detent on the flexible shoulder of the collapsibletube. Certain embodiments include the cap with the lower surface as aproduct of this process.

Other aspects of the invention include manufacturing the cap for thecollapsible tube with a flexible shoulder including raised ribs byeither molding the second material to create the cap with the internalrib for snapping over the raised flexible ribs or to create the cap withthe internal post for snapping over the raised flexible ribs. Either ofthese caps are products of this process.

Using the collapsible tube permits dispensing essentially all of thecontained product, which is advantageous in a variety of fields wheretoday everyone is forced to waste the last part of the containedproduct. This is valuable in such diverse areas of application aspharmaceuticals, personal care products, paints, toothpaste, foods,glues, hazardous chemicals, viscous plastics, and grease products.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a prior art exterior screw with a prior art externalflexible thread form;

FIG. 1B shows a prior art example of FIG. 1A using a standard acmethread for the external flexible thread form and the matching internalthread form;

FIG. 1C shows a prior art example of FIG. 1A using a standard buttressthread for the external flexible thread form and the matching internalthread form;

FIG. 1D shows a prior art example of FIG. 1A using a box thread for theexternal flexible thread form and the matching internal thread form;

FIG. 2A shows a side view of a collapsible tube in accord with theinvention including a raised detent near the widest circumference of itsflexible shoulder;

FIG. 2B shows a top view of the collapsible tube of FIG. 2A includingthe raised detent and its raised rim;

FIG. 2C shows a top view of an alternative collapsible tube where theraised detent includes a first and second gap separating a first andsecond raised rim;

FIG. 2D shows an alternative flexible throat for the collapsible tube ofFIGS. 2A through 2C;

FIG. 3A shows a side view of a collapsible tube including at least oneexternal raised rib on the flexible shoulder, in accord with theinvention;

FIG. 3B shows a top view of a collapsible tube including two externalraised ribs in accord with the invention;

FIG. 3C shows a top view of a collapsible tube including two internalraised ribs in accord with the invention;

FIG. 3D shows a top view of a collapsible tube including two externalraised ribs and two internal raised ribs in accord with the invention;

FIG. 4A shows a side view of a collapsible tube with two external raisedribs included on its flexible shoulder;

FIG. 4B shows a top view of a collapsible tube with six external raisedribs included on its flexible shoulder;

FIG. 4C shows a top view of a collapsible tube with five external raisedribs included on its flexible shoulder;

FIG. 5A shows a side view of a collapsible tube including at least oneexternal raised rib and a raised detent on the flexible shoulder, inaccord with the invention;

FIG. 5B shows a top view of a collapsible tube including two externalraised ribs and a raised detent in accord with the invention;

FIG. 5C shows a top view of a collapsible tube including two internalraised ribs and a raised detent in accord with the invention;

FIG. 5D shows a top view of a collapsible tube including two externalraised ribs, two internal raised ribs and a raised detent in accord withthe invention;

FIGS. 6A to 6D show the side view of the squeezing of the collapsibletube in accord with the invention, with the contained product beingdispensed;

FIG. 7A shows a side view of a cap engaged through a lower surface tothe raised detent of the collapsible tube in accord with the invention;

FIG. 7B shows a cross section of the cap of FIG. 7A with an interior rimengaging the flexible throat of the collapsible tube;

FIG. 7C shows a cross section of an alternative cap including aninternal bulge for engaging the flexible throat, and the lower surfaceengaging the raised detent of the collapsible tube;

FIGS. 8A and 8B show an internal post in the cap engaging with a raisedrib on the flexible shoulder of the collapsible tube;

FIGS. 9A and 9B show the cap with an internal post and a bump, where theinternal post engages a raised rib and the bump engages a gap in theraised detent of the collapsible tube; and

FIGS. 9C and 9D show a cap including the bump engaging a gap in theraised detent included in the collapsible tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to open thread screw and cap mechanisms withparticular application to forming collapsible tube dispensers.

Certain embodiments of the invention include a collapsible tube 500 forcontaining at least one contained product 900, comprising: an externalflexible thread form on a flexible throat 502 coupled to a flexibleshoulder 504, as shown in FIGS. 2A to 5D. The flexible throat and theflexible shoulder flatten to dispense essentially all of the containedproduct 900, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6D. The external flexible threadform mates with an internal thread form, included in the cap 800, urgingthe flexible throat to seal against the cap when the cap is twisted ontothe flexible throat. And the external flexible thread form furtherincludes at least two external open threads.

-   -   The flexible shoulder 504 may include a raised detent 512 near        the widest circumference of the flexible shoulder 504 as shown        in FIGS. 2A to 2C, and 5A to 5D. The raised detent stops a cap        800 when twisted onto the flexible throat 502 at a final        position as shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C.    -   Alternatively, the flexible shoulder 504 may comprise at least        two raised flexible ribs 505 as shown in FIGS. 3A to 4C. These        raised ribs serve to control the flattening of the flexible        shoulder 504 in a single direction.    -   Or the flexible shoulder 504 may comprise both the raised detent        512 for stopping the cap 800 and the raised flexible ribs 505 to        control the flattening, which may be preferred in certain        situations and is shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D.

The raised detent 512 may include a raised rim 516 near the widestcircumference of the flexible shoulder 504 as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C,5A to 5D, and 7A to 7C. The raised detent is sufficient to create abarrier to the cap 800 turning beyond when the cap is in the finalposition. FIGS. 5A and 7A to 7C show the raised detent and its raisedrim as creating the widest circumference of the flexible shoulder. FIGS.2A to 2C and 5B to 5D show the raised rim as part or near the widestcircumference.

The raised detent 512 may include at least one gap 514 for engaging witha bump 824 of the cap 800 to create a cue indicating to a user that thefinal position has been reached as shown in FIGS. 9B to 9D. FIG. 2Cshows an example with the raised detent including a first gap 514-1 anda second gap 514-2, separating the first raised rim 516-1 from thesecond raised rim 516-2.

In embodiments where the flexible shoulder 504 includes raised ribs, theflexible throat may include at least two external raised ribs and/or atleast two of an internal raised ribs, as seen in the following examples:

-   -   FIG. 3A shows one side of the flexible shoulder 504 including a        first external raised rib 505-1.    -   FIGS. 3B and 5B show the flexible shoulder including a first        external raised rib 505-1 and a second external raised rib        505-2.    -   FIGS. 3C and 5C show the flexible shoulder including a first        internal raised rib 507-1 and a second internal raised rib        507-2.    -   FIGS. 3D and 5D show the flexible shoulder including both a        first external raised rib 505-1 and a second external raised rib        505-2, as well as a first internal raised rib 507-1 and a second        internal raised rib 507-2.    -   FIGS. 4A and 5A show one side of the flexible shoulder including        a first external raised rib 505-1 and a second external raised        rib 505-2, which when the flexible shoulder is symmetric with        its other side, would thus include four external raised ribs. In        certain embodiments, this may be a preferred configuration.    -   FIG. 4B shows the flexible shoulder including more than four        external raised ribs, in fact including a first external raised        rib 505-1, a second external raised rib 505-2, a third external        raised rib 505-3, a fourth external raised rib 505-4, a fifth        external raised rib 505-5 and a sixth external raised rib 505-6.    -   FIG. 4C shows the flexible shoulder including an odd number of        external raised ribs, in fact including a first external raised        rib 505-1, a second external raised rib 505-2, a third external        raised rib 505-3, a fourth external raised rib 505-4, and a        fifth external raised rib 505-5.    -   Various embodiments of the flexible shoulder may have an even or        odd number of external or internal raised ribs. The number these        internal and/or external raised ribs may further be at most        twenty four.

Using the collapsible tube 500 permits dispensing essentially all of thecontained product 900 as shown in FIG. 6A to 6D, which is advantageousin a variety of fields where today everyone is forced to waste the lastpart of the contained product. The contained product may be any of thefollowing: a pharmaceutical, a personal care product, a toothpaste, afood, an artist's paint, a glue, a hazardous chemical, a grease product,and/or a viscous plastic.

A contained product 900 will be referred to herein as a viscous plasticproduct when it is viscous enough to be pressed out of a collapsiblesqueeze tube to form a blob or a line for various purposes, such ascaulk or other sealants, a compound used to create a braille letter, orother identifying mark on items for the blind, or a decorative substancethat is not simply paint but creates texture and mass when applied, orat least one compound that dries when exposed to air forming durableshapes, marks, seals, decorations, and the like.

The collapsible tube 500 may preferably be made of at least one flexiblethermoset elastomeric and/or flexible thermoplastic elastomer.Elastomeric plastics include, but not limited to, urethane, polyvinylchloride, ThermoPlastic elastomer Olefin (TPO), Thermal PolyVinylchloride (TPV), ThermoPlasRubber (TPR) and/or Silicone based compounds.The cap 800 to which the flexible threads mate may also be manufacturedusing existing collapsible tube manufacturing technology and materials.

Aspects of the invention include manufacturing the collapsible tube 500with the flexible shoulder 504 including the raised detent 512 bymolding a first injected material to create the collapsible tube withthe raised detent included in the flexible shoulder. Certain embodimentsof the invention include the collapsible tube with the raised detent asa product of this manufacturing process.

Another aspect of the invention includes manufacturing the collapsibletube 500 with the raised flexible ribs 505 by molding the first injectedmaterial to create the collapsible tube with the raised flexible ribsincluded in the flexible shoulder 504. Certain embodiments of theinvention include the collapsible tube with the flexible ribs as aproduct of this manufacturing process.

As used herein, the first injected material may but is not limited to,at least one thermoset elastomeric and/or thermoplastic elastomer.Elastomeric plastics include, but not limited to, urethane, polyvinylchloride, ThermoPlastic elastomer Olefin (TPO), Thermal PolyVinylchloride (TPV), ThermoPlasRubber (TPR) and/or Silicone based compounds.

Other manufacturing processes may be used to make embodiments of thecollapsible tube 500. The threads on the flexible throat 502, theflexible shoulder 504, and when applicable, the collapsible tube body506, are preferably made of flexible materials including, but are notlimited to, at least one thermoset elastomeric and/or thermoplasticelastomer. Elastomeric plastics include, but not limited to, urethane,polyvinyl chloride, ThermoPlastic elastomer Olefin (TPO), ThermalPolyVinyl chloride (TPV), ThermoPlasRubber (TPR) and/or Silicone basedcompounds.

An elastomeric plastic is typically a polymer blend or compound, whichabove its melting temperature, exhibits a thermoplastic behaviorenabling it to be shaped into a fabricated article, such as acollapsible tube or cap. When the article is within its designtemperature range, it exhibits elastomeric behavior withoutcross-linking during fabrication. The fabrication process is reversible.The article can be reprocessed and remolded. The method of making thesecollapsible tubes 500 may include, but is not limited to, using a mold,into which the material(s) are injected and/or blown. The material maybe injected one or more times. When material is injected more than onetime, the process is often known as a multi-shot molding.

Certain embodiments include a cap 800 for the collapsible tube 500 asshown in FIGS. 7A to 9D, including an interior bulge 802 to act upon theflexible throat 502 as shown in FIG. 7C or an interior rim 822 to actupon the flexible throat as shown in FIG. 7B. Both the interior bulge802 and interior rim 822 act upon the flexible throat 502 to urge theflexible throat to engage the internal thread form 804-1 to 804-N, wherein these two examples N is four.

-   -   The cap 800, for the collapsible tube 500 with the flexible        shoulder 504 including the raised detent 512, may include a        lower surface 830 to engage with the raised detent to stop the        cap from twisting past the final position as shown in FIGS. 7A        to 7C.    -   The cap 800, for the collapsible tube 500 with the flexible        shoulder 504 including raised flexible ribs 505, may include an        internal post 823 that snaps over a raised flexible rib 505-1 to        indicate the cap turning is in the final position as shown in        FIGS. 8A and 8B.    -   The cap 800 may include a bump 824 engaging the gap 514 in the        raised detent 512 as the cap is turned into the final position,        producing a cue indicating to the user that the final position        has been reached, as shown in FIGS. 9A through 9D. The may        include the internal post 823 as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, or        may not include the internal post as shown in FIGS. 9C and 9D.

In further detail, FIG. 7C shows a cross section of FIG. 7A of thecollapsible shoulder 504, flexible throat 502 engaging the internalthread form and the external flexible thread form. The internal threadform includes internal buttress threads 804-1 to 804-4. The externalflexible thread form includes external buttress threads 702-1 to 702-4.The internal thread form and the external flexible thread formcollectively urge the cap 800 and the flexible throat 502 to seal thecontained product into the collapsible tube. The cap 800 further,preferably includes an interior bulge 802 which acts upon the flexiblethroat 502 to urge the flexible throat 502 to engage the internal threadform and the external flexible thread form.

In FIGS. 7B and 7C, the internal thread form of the cap 800 slides alongthe external flexible thread form of the collapsible tube, and theexternal flexible thread form slides along the internal thread form toslide along each other, when the internal thread form and the externalflexible thread form engage. After they engage, continued sliding causesthe internal thread form and the external flexible thread form to sealthe contained product 900 into the collapsible tube 500.

In FIG. 7B, the interior rim 822 included in the cap 800 may preferablyextend to below at least the first external thread 804-1 to aid inurging the reforming of the flexible throat 502. It may furtherpreferred that the interior rim 822 extend below the second externalthread 804-2, and so on. One skilled in the art will recognize that manyvariations in the cap 800 are preferred in different situations, causingvariation in at least their size, shape, number of threads, and whetheror not they are hollow.

The cap 800 shown in the preceding Figures may preferably be made fromthe second injected material containing at least one rigid thermosetelastomeric and/or rigid thermoplastic elastomer. Elastomeric plasticsinclude, but not limited to, urethane, polyvinyl chloride, ThermoPlasticelastomer Olefin (TPO), Thermal PolyVinyl chloride (TPV),ThermoPlasRubber (TPR) and/or Silicone based compounds. The cap to whichthe flexible threads mate may also be manufactured using existing capmolding technology and materials. The interior bulge 802 on the cap thatinserts into the flexible throat 502 may also be a standard cap design.The interior rim 822 on the cap that inserts into the flexible throat502 may also be a standard cap design. These caps may also be made fromconventional cap materials.

Aspects of the invention include manufacturing the cap 800 forcollapsible tube 500 with the raised detent 512 on the flexible shoulder504 by molding a second injected material to create the cap includingthe lower surface for engaging the raised detent on the flexibleshoulder 504 of the collapsible tube. Certain embodiments include thecap with the lower surface as a product of this process.

Other aspects of the invention include manufacturing the cap 800 for thecollapsible tube 500 with a flexible shoulder 504 including raised ribsby either molding the second material to create the cap with theinternal rib for snapping over the raised flexible ribs 505 or to createthe cap with the internal post for snapping over the raised flexibleribs. Either of these caps are products of this process.

In further detail, FIG. 2A shows a side view of the collapsible tube 500showing a first break 600 forming a canted column on the flexible throat502. FIGS. 2B and 2C show a top view of the collapsible tube 500including a first break 600 and a second break 602. FIGS. 2A and 3Ashows a side view of the collapsible tube 500 with the first break 600forming rectangular column on the flexible throat.

FIGS. 2A and 2D show the flexible throat 502 with an external flexiblethread form including at least two, and in this case four open threads.These threads could, be by way of example, external acme threads,external buttress threads, external V threads, external box threads, orcombinations or modifications of these well known open threads. Thefirst break 600 in FIG. 2A forms a canted column on the flexible throat502. The first break 600 is rectangular on the flexible throat in FIG.2D.

The collapsible tube 500 may have a tube closure, repeatedly opened andsealed shut by using a mechanical device (sometimes known as a key).Versions of key typically include a plastic cylinder with a slit in itscenter that slides over the open end of the tube, rolls toward theflexible throat 504 of the collapsible tube 500 to seal the tubeclosure, and locks itself in the closed position.

The preceding embodiments have been provided by way of example and arenot meant to constrain the scope of the following claims.

1. A collapsible tube for containing at least one product, comprising:an external flexible thread form on a flexible throat coupled to aflexible shoulder; wherein said flexible shoulder comprises a raiseddetent near the widest circumference of said flexible shoulder thatstops a cap when twisted onto said flexible throat at a final position;wherein said external flexible thread form mates with an internal threadform, included in said cap, urging said flexible throat to seal againstsaid cap when said cap is twisted onto said flexible throat; whereinsaid external flexible thread form further comprises: at least twoexternal open threads; and wherein said flexible throat and saidflexible shoulder flatten to dispense essentially all of said product.2. The collapsible tube of claim 1, further comprising: said flexibleshoulder mating to a collapsible tube body; wherein said flexible throatand said flexible shoulder flatten with said collapsible tube body todispense essentially all of said product.
 3. The collapsible tube ofclaim 1, further comprising: said flexible shoulder mating to itself. 4.The collapsible tube of claim 1, wherein said raised detent comprises: araised rim near said widest circumference sufficient to create a barrierto said cap turning beyond when said cap is in said final position. 5.The collapsible tube of claim 1, wherein said raised detent comprises atleast one gap for engaging with a bump on said cap to create a cueindicating to a user that said final position has been reached.
 6. Thecollapsible tube of claim 1, wherein said contained product is a memberof the group consisting of a pharmaceutical product, a personal careproduct, a paint product, a toothpaste, a food product, a glue product,a hazardous chemical, a grease product, and a viscous plastic product.7. The collapsible tube of claim 1, wherein said flexible shouldercomprises at least two raised flexible ribs to control the flattening ofsaid flexible shoulder in a single direction.
 8. The collapsible tube ofclaim 7, wherein said flexible shoulder further comprises at least twoof an external of said raised flexible ribs.
 9. The collapsible tube ofclaim 7, wherein said flexible shoulder further comprises at least twoof an internal of said raised flexible ribs.
 10. The cap for use withsaid collapsible tube of claim 1, comprising a lower surface to engagewith said raised detent to stop said cap from twisting past said finalposition; and further comprising a member of the group consisting of: aninterior bulge to act upon said flexible throat to urge said flexiblethroat to engage said internal thread form and said external flexiblethread form; and an interior rim to act upon said flexible throat tourge said flexible throat to engage said internal thread and saidexternal flexible thread form.
 11. A method of manufacturing for atleast one of the members of a group consisting of: said collapsible tubeand said cap of claim 10, wherein said method comprises at least onemember of the group consisting of the steps of: molding a first injectedmaterial to create said collapsible tube with said raised detentincluded in said flexible shoulder; molding a second injected materialto create said cap including said lower surface for engaging said raiseddetent.
 12. At least one member of the group consisting of saidcollapsible tube with said raised detent and said cap with said lowersurface, as products of the process of claim
 11. 13. A collapsible tubefor containing at least one product, comprising: an external flexiblethread form on a flexible throat coupled to a flexible shoulder; whereinsaid flexible shoulder comprises at least two raised flexible ribs tocontrol the flattening of said flexible shoulder in a single direction;wherein said flexible throat and said flexible shoulder flatten todispense essentially all of said product; wherein said external flexiblethread form mates with an internal thread form, included in a cap,urging said flexible throat to seal against said cap when said cap istwisted onto said flexible throat; and wherein said external flexiblethread form further comprises: at least two external open threads. 14.The collapsible tube of claim 13, further comprising: said flexibleshoulder mating to a collapsible tube body; wherein said flexible throatand said flexible shoulder flatten with said collapsible tube body todispense essentially all of said product.
 15. The collapsible tube ofclaim 13, further comprising: said flexible shoulder mating to itself.16. The collapsible tube of claim 13, wherein said flexible shoulderfurther comprises at least four of an external of said raised flexibleribs.
 17. The collapsible tube of claim 13, wherein said flexibleshoulder further comprises at least four of an internal of said raisedflexible ribs.
 18. The collapsible tube of claim 13, wherein saidflexible shoulder further comprises a raised detent near the widestcircumference of said flexible shoulder that stops said cap when twistedonto said flexible throat at a final position.
 19. The collapsible tubeof claim 18, wherein said raised detent comprises: a raised rim offlexible material near said widest circumference sufficient to create abarrier to said cap turning beyond when said cap is in said finalposition.
 20. The cap for use with said collapsible tube of claim 13,comprising: an internal post with sufficient length to snap over saidraised flexible ribs of said flexible throat as said cap is turned intosaid final position, producing a cue indicating to the user that saidfinal position has been reached; wherein said cue includes at least onemember of the group consisting of an auditory cue and a tactile cue; andwherein said cap, further comprises a member of the group consisting of:an interior bulge to act upon said flexible throat to urge said flexiblethroat to engage said internal thread form and said external flexiblethread form; and an interior rim to act upon said flexible throat tourge said flexible throat to engage said internal thread and saidexternal flexible thread form.